KEVIN KEEGAN insisted today that the foundations are already in place to build a team that can go places next season.

The Newcastle United boss, like the rest of his Premier League managerial counter-parts, is currently enjoying a well-earned end-of-season break, but will tackle his transfer targets head on when he returns in a couple of weeks.

Keegan is hoping to add up to five new faces to his current squad.

And he feels that, with the right additions, his current crop of players still have what it takes to achieve a respectable top-flight finish next term.

The likes of skipper Michael Owen, Nicky Butt, Habib Beye, Oba Martins, Steven Taylor and Steve Harper all ended the season on a high, while Shay Given and Emre are yet to return from injuries.

And with Damien Duff, James Milner and Alan Smith all still with points to prove at the start of next season, Keegan is optimistic about the new campaign once the slate has been wiped clean.

He said today: “We’ve already got some quality players and we hope to add to that.

“It’s hard to predict.

“I can say better when it is the start of the season when I have all the squad together.

“If you ask me then I can look round and say this is what we are going to go with.”

Keegan’s side ended the season with eight defeats from his 17 games in charge last term, but the manager had to contend with a side whose confidence had hit rock bottom.

Yet despite the first win taking two months to arrive after Keegan’s third coming, he said it was always going to take time to get his own ideas across.

He added: “I’ve enjoyed it.

“We’ve changed a few things at Newcastle.

“When you come into a club, everybody has different ideas, and that’s no criticism of what had gone on before.

“Our main aim was to try to make players here enjoy coming to the training ground.

“And by doing that make sure they do the right kind of work.

“If you can get that right it’s a pretty good formula.”

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INTEREST in United midfielder Charles N’Zogbia is believed to be building, but the Chronicle understands that no direct approach has been made for the Frenchman.

Reports earlier this week that N’Zogbia was about to join Wigan for £3.5m left Toon fans wondering if this was the end of the former Le Havre youngster’s stint at St James’s Park.

However, N’Zogbia is contracted until 2012 and Newcastle have no reason to sell one of their most talented assets on the cheap.

KK is also a fan of N’Zogbia’s style of play and may feel when the player returns refreshed from the summer break, he can still get the best out of him.